MCA Accepts Class 12 Megayacht With Zodiac White Rescue Boat/Yacht Tender

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1 First Look! Factory photos and specs of Zodiac s new Proluxe 560 Convertible Rescue Boat/Tender--see attached FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MCA Accepts Class 12 Megayacht With Zodiac White Rescue Boat/Yacht Tender Zodiac s Clever Design Innovation Solves The Orange Issue STEVENSVILLE, MD (October 2003) The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) recently accepted a class 12 yacht equipped with Zodiac of North America s redesigned Proluxe 560 SE RIB for use as a rescue boat/yacht tender. Zodiac s patent-pending white rescue boat/yacht tender, known as the Proluxe 560 I/O Convertible Rescue Boat, solves the MCA orange color requirement for rescue boats by using a removable orange cover system for the collar, deck and seats. Zodiac has been a leader in safety at sea for more than 30 years, and we fully appreciate the high standards devised by the MCA for yachts and safety equipment, said JJ. Marie, President & CEO of Zodiac of North America. The redesigned Proluxe 560 will appeal to megayacht owners, who can improve safety without having to compromise style and luxury. Zodiac recently signed another contract for two Proluxe 560 SE RIBs, with diesel/ water jet engines, for another new-build yacht, known as Project Platinum. The Situation Among large yacht owners and designers, one of the most disturbing aspects of the MCA life-saving appliances requirements for charter yachts more than 24 meters (about 79 feet) is this: The code specifies orange-colored lifeboats and rescue boats that can be easily seen from a distance in a rescue situation. With a relatively simple adaptation of an existing yacht tender design, Zodiac has found a solution to the orange issue. In an interview for the Winter 2001 edition of the Zodiac Yacht Division News, MCA compliance expert Anna Bradley of A.B. Certification Limited explained the situation regarding the MCA life saving appliance codes for charter yachts: Every charter yacht over 24 meters must have a small boat that can be used for rescue purposes not just to retrieve a man overboard but to muster life rafts when - continued -

2 -2- ZODIAC WHITE RESCUE BOAT/YACHT TENDER abandoning ship. These boats can be rigid, rigid inflatable or inflatable, and they should be orange in color. For yachts more than 50 meters in length (about 164 feet), rescue boats must meet SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea) requirements, and they must be orange. This orange issue has been a major sticking point with yacht owners and designers since the MCA codes first went into effect in December of To put it in polite language, let s just say that orange is not the preferred color for luxury yacht tenders among megayacht owners and designers, said Brad Jennings, Manager of Zodiac of North America s Leisure RIBs & The Yacht Division. The Solution Zodiac s solution for the orange issue is simple, yet effective. We have developed a system of removable orange covers that can be stored, ready to be deployed should a situation arise that requires the yacht tender to be used as a rescue boat, explained Jennings. The covers, made out of tarp-like fabric similar to that used for deck covers, are used for the collar, deck and the seats. Zodiac s Proluxe 560 I/O Convertible Rescue Boat is the first white yacht tender to be fitted with these specific orange covers. It is one of several models in the Proluxe range of luxury yacht tenders designed specifically for large yachts. Hull and Engine Features Among the things that make this yacht tender/rescue boat special are the custom engine and hull designs. Zodiac s design team constructed the hull using lightweight composites that reduce the tender s overall weight and help improve performance. Zodiac s custom inboard diesel engine modification for the yacht tender meets SOLAS standards and has been issued a Certificate of Type Approval by Bureau Veritas. Because we already offer a wide range of SOLAS-compliant RIBs and inflatable rescue boats for commercial use, we are familiar with hull and engine design elements that improve safety, said Jennings. - continued -

3 -3- ZODIAC WHITE RESCUE BOAT/YACHT TENDER The SOLAS standards being addressed with the new rescue boat/yacht tender design include: Use of a fire retardant resin in the construction of the fiberglass hull A diesel engine capable of running in a semi-submerged state A special shut off system for the engine exhaust in roll-over conditions and A drop and impact test to ensure the tender s integrity should it need to be deployed in a rough sea situation About Zodiac Of North America, Inc. Zodiac of North America, Inc. is a subsidiary of Zodiac S.A., the world s largest manufacturer of RIBs, inflatable boats, life rafts and marine safety equipment, and the world s oldest manufacturer of inflatable boats. The company manufactures and distributes RIBs and foam collar crafts (both fiberglass and aluminum hulls), inflatable boats, life rafts and safety equipment. Zodiac brands include Zodiac, AVON and Bombard. Zodiac s manufacturing facilities are located in South Carolina, Washington, Vancouver, British Columbia, and several other countries around the world. Zodiac originated several major concepts that evolved the inflatable boat, including the inflatable keel, Futura hull, H2P high-pressure air floor and the Acti-V hull. Zodiac of North America, Inc. corporate headquarters are located at 540 Thompson Creek Road, Stevensville, MD 21666; Phone: (410) ; Fax: (410) ; Internet: and ### Contact: Michael Sias or John Quinn Haber & Quinn Public Relations & Marketing Ph: ; Fax: mds@haberandquinn.com; or jq@haberandquinn.com

4 PROLUXE 560 I/O CONVERTIBLE RESCUE BOAT Specifications and Features Specification Data Length Overall 18 8 (5.69 m) Beam Max. 8 2 (2.49 m) (Inflated) Tube Material Air Collar 1650 dtx Number of 5 Chambers Tube Diameter 0.48m (19 ) Hull Material GRP 1.7 L, 120 hp Power Mercruiser Diesel; Alpha outdrive Fuel Capacity 39 US gallons (148 L) Person Capacity 6 (SOLAS) Weight (fully 2196 lbs./996 kg fueled) White Kevlar/vinylester hull, console & engine cover w/ swim platform ISO 6185 flotation foam Inflatable 5 chamber collar w/ relief valves, Proluxe rub-strake, orange cover, reflective tape & SOLAS position indicating light with battery Mercury 1.7 DL/Alpha 120 hp SOLAS engine & prop guard Console w/ fwd cushioned seat, low profile handrail & windshield Engine cover w/ assisted lift that forms seating for driver and passenger fwd and 2 person seating aft Cushioned bow box w/ fuel fill All cushions are removable w/ orange under cushion Removable orange deck cover Reinforced bow towing eye & transom mounted ski tow eye 1 bow and two stern pop-up mooring cleats Fire extinguisher w/ storage 6 lift point system w/ 4 pt lift sling SOLAS ancillary equipment Hydraulic steering with tilt helm 10 circuit electrical w/ bilge pump & horn Dual battery switch system w/ Optimax batteries 12 v battery charging receptacle, accessory plug (12 v), navigation lights with telescoping stern light, courtesy lights on deck, in seat and in console Compass & Clarion AM/FM/CD

5 A Breakthrough in Yacht Tender/Rescue Boat Design for MCA Classed Yachts! The new Zodiac Proluxe 560 I/O Convertible Rescue Boat converts from a handsome white yacht tender to a bright orange rescue boat, using a removable orange cover system.

6 All the Features of a World-Class Luxury Yacht Tender, Plus the Requirements for a Rescue Boat, In One Clever Design Underneath the polished exterior and yacht tender amenities of the new Zodiac Proluxe 560 I/O Convertible Rescue Boat is a rescue boat ready for deployment even in rough sea situations.

7 From White To Orange The removable orange cover system for the Zodiac Proluxe 560 I/O Convertible Rescue Boat meets the requirements for orange-colored rescue boats that can be easily seen from a distance in a rescue situation.

8 Ready for Rescue Orange covers for the collar, deck and seats of the new Zodiac Proluxe 560 I/O Convertible Rescue Boat are easily stored and ready to be deployed if needed.